Accordingly a cyclone alert has been issued for the northern coastal region of the state of Andhra Pradesh with the Indian Meteorological Department predicting 'very heavy to extremely heavy' rains in the region. Meanwhile the IMD has stated that depression has formed over west-central Bay of Bengal which could intensify into a cyclonic storm.
IMD officials informed that "A cyclone alert has been given as a deep depression has formed in west-central Bay of Bengal and moving towards the southeast coast of Kalingapatnam, due to which northern coastal districts of Andhra Pradesh will witness rainfall in the coming two days”. Meanwhile Dr Nagaratna, a scientist at IMD Hyderabad, said, “Due to the deep depression, north coastal districts like Srikakulam, Vizianagaram and Vishakapatanam East and West Godavari (twin districts) will see light to moderate and heavy rainfall, along with very heavy to extremely heavy rains in several places."
An IMD statement said "The depression is
likely to intensify into a cyclonic storm during the next 12 hours and hence it
is very likely to move west-northwestwards and cross south Odisha - north
Andhra Pradesh coasts between Kalingapatnam and Puri (Odisha), close to
Gopalpur around midnight as a cyclonic storm with a wind speed of 60-70 kmph
gusting to 80 kmph”.